Culture, Tradition and Museums of Ineia
Following the natural and cultural heritage of Ineia Museums of Ineia
Museums of Ineia
Ineia-Lara Turtle Museum and Education Center
Discover the marine turtle through a unique learning and exploration experience
The Ineia-Lara Turtle Museum has been operating since 2023 and is housed in a specially designed building. It is the first specialised space in Cyprus devoted exclusively to the marine turtle and is the product of scientific research and advanced museological planning.
The modern museum approach, along with the variety, quality and multidimensional character of its exhibits, combined with thematic digital interactive presentations, offer unique experiences and reveal lesser-known aspects of the world of turtles, as well as of the wider area that hosts them, in an engaging environment for visitors of all ages.
Within a space of 178 m², divided into three rooms, visitors explore the fascinating world of the two turtle species that visit Lara, the Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) and the Green Turtle through unique exhibits, photographs, maps, an impressive diorama that simulates the natural beach of Lara, short films and other visual media.
Reception Area
The first room of the Museum includes the Reception Area, welcoming visitors with an impressive map of the Akamas Peninsula, which offers a first visual encounter with the beaches of Lara–Toxeftra and the pristine Akamas forest. In the same space, visitors learn about the evolution of the turtle from its appearance around 200 million years ago to today, as well as the adaptations that have allowed it to survive the Earth’s climate changes.
Main Hall
From the reception area, visitors continue to the main 95 m² hall of the Museum, which hosts exhibits and interactive presentations. On the right, an impressive three-dimensional diorama of the Lara beach showcases hatchlings and the natural threats they face from crabs, foxes and other animals. The diorama brings to life the real beach with all its distinctive features.
Modern touch screens display short films created especially for the Museum, with footage from Lara and Akamas, along with information on the geomorphology, flora and fauna of the area, and the life cycle of the turtle from birth to adulthood.
Interactive programmes also present human- related threats affecting turtle survival and highlight their significant ecological role in marine biodiversity and ocean sustainability. The Museum offers comprehensive learning and entertainment, enhancing both the knowledge and emotions of visitors.
Projection Room
Films about the sea turtle are projected in a specially designed space. A striking animated film stands out through which young visitors travel through the time and space of the two species of turtles, from their appearance on Earth to their arrival at the beaches of Lara and Toxeftra.
The natural and human threats they face are also presented, while in the same area visitors can test their knowledge through interactive games.
Gift Shop
At the exit of the Museum is the Shop, which offers a variety of turtle-themed souvenirs such as postcards, key chains, magnets, books and many other unique items.
Turtle Educational Center
Next to the Exhibition Center is the Turtle Educational Center, housed in a renovated building from 2015. It operates as an environmental education center with specially designed programmes and digital tools for students of all ages.
Using its equipment – computers, maps and visual materials – students can follow educational programmes and participate in both classroom and field activities, learning about the marine turtle, the ecosystems of Lara and Akamas, the geography, geomorphology, geology and other important aspects of the area.
Basketry Museum
Where the art of woven straw comes alive in the heart of Ineia
In the centre of the village, the Basketry Museum hosts unique exhibits of folk art, masterpieces of traditional craftsmanship that keep alive the heritage passed down from generation to generation.
Visitors can admire colourful designs, baskets of every shape and use, forming an authentic world of art closely linked with daily life and the cultural identity of Ineia.
The museum includes an extensive collection of basketry items, an art that flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, mainly focused on producing baskets for the collection and transport of carobs, grapes, olives and other agricultural products. Additionally, traditional handicrafts are displayed, including woven baskets, textiles, trays, wall decorations, handmade fishing nets and various other containers.
